Why have tourists garnered such awful reputations? Why do we assume that they only exist to hold selfie sticks, rumble through neighborhoods on tour buses, and drive locals crazy?

In the six weeks since I moved to Detroit, I have struggled to identify as either a “tourist” or a “local”. Despite the negative stereotypes, I have discovered that seeing a place through the eyes of a tourist can actually be enlightening. Here is why…

• Locals can (re)discover.  When you live in a city your whole life, it can become difficult to step outside of your comfort zone. During orientation week, I talked to a few locals who suddenly felt like tourists in their own city. They were exposed to programs and places that they never would have explored.
• With a fresh perspective, you start to ask questions. Why is there a fence around this property? Why are these historic mansions abandoned? Why aren’t any kids in that play lot?
• You can observe, but then you can get off the bus. We took a tour of several Detroit neighborhoods. I could see and learn about the sites from my seat, but the most important step was to get off the bus and talk to community members about their work.

Will there be a day when I will stop feeling like a tourist and start feeling like a Detroiter? I hope so. But I still shamelessly stop to take pictures of murals along the Dequindre Cut on a Sunday afternoon bike ride. I get horribly lost walking and driving Downtown. I have seen the sunset on Belle Isle, and I have definitely taken a selfie in front of the Spirit of Detroit.

Challenge Detroit provides an unmatched opportunity to dive into Detroit with talented young professionals and engage with diverse communities. As I start this fellowship year, I will continue to explore Detroit with the curiosity and energy of a tourist.

Belle Isle Sunset

Spirit of Detroit at Open Streets